PHOTO: a rare view of the Imperial Yachts ‘Polar Star‘ (left) and ‘Standart‘ (right), docked at Libau (renamed Liepāja in 1920), located in Latvia on the Baltic Sea. August 1903.

The ‘Polar Star / Полярная звезда’ and ‘Standart / Штандарт’ are easily distinguished by two different features: their funnels and the double-headed eagle figurehead, located on the bow of each vessel.

The two funnels of the ‘Polar Star / Полярная звезда’ are closer together, whereas those of the ‘Standart / Штандарт’ are placed wider apart.

The magnificent carved double-headed figurehead of the ‘Standart / Штандарт’ is much more elaborate than that of the ‘Polar Star / Полярная звезда’.

Imperial Yacht ‘Polar Star‘ / Полярная звезд‘

PHOTO: Scale models of the Russian Imperial Yacht Polar Star / Полярная звезда
from the Collection of the Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg

The Imperial Yacht ‘Polar Star / Полярная звезда’ was built by order of Emperor Alexander III at the Baltic Shipyard on 20th May 1888. She was launched on 19th May 19 1890, and came into service in March 1891. It later served the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, who used it annually to sail to Denmark and England.

During the First World War, the yacht was docked in Petrograd, and in early June 1917 moved to Helsingfors. In 1920, the ‘Polar Star’ was mothballed.

In the early 1930s, the former Imperial Yacht was converted to a floating submarine base for the Soviet Navy. Numerous changes were made to the yacht’s exterior, but the interior decoration of many rooms were preserved. On 20th August 1936, the naval flag of the USSR was hoisted on the former Imperial yacht.

In 1954 the Polar Star was converted back into a floating ship, in 1961 as a target ship for testing anti-ship missiles. In November 1961, the ‘Polar Star’ was sunk in the Gulf of Riga, after being hit during a naval exercise. The final fate of the former Imperial Yacht remains unknown, although according to some reports, it was scrapped in the early 1970s.

Further reading: The fates of the Russian Imperial Yachts ‘Standart’ and ‘Polar Star’

Imperial Yacht ‘Standart‘ / Штандарт’

PHOTO: Scale model of the Russian Imperial Yachts Standart / Штандарт
, from the Collection of the Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg

The Imperial Yacht ‘Standart / Штандарт’ [pronounced “Shtandart”] was built by order of Emperor Alexander III, and constructed at the Danish shipyard of Burmeister & Wain, beginning in 1893. She was launched on 21st March 1895 and came into service early September 1896. It later served Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

In 1917, the ‘Standart’ was seized by Revolutionary sailors, and took part first in the February and then in the October Revolution.

The ‘Standart’ was then stripped down and pressed into naval service. It was renamed three times: ‘18 Marta’ (‘18 March,’ from 1918-1936), and later ‘Marti’ (in honour of André Marty, from 1936-1948), and ‘Oka’ (from 1948-1963). She was scrapped at Tallinn, Estonia, in 1963.

Further reading: The fates of the Russian Imperial Yachts ‘Standart’ and ‘Polar Star’

PHOTO: Officers take Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her daughter Grand Duchess Anastasia to the Imperial Yacht ‘Standart‘. September 1907 or 1908

PHOTO: A rare early 20th century photo of the Imperial Yacht ‘Standart‘ moored along the embankment on the Neva in St. Petersburg.

© Paul Gilbert. 23 October 2024